Mold for artificial stone steps



Dec. 11, 1934.v J. J. SCHEEL 1,984,087-

MOLD FOR ARTIFICIAL STONE STEPS Filed Sept. 9, 1931 ATTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 1,984,087

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLD FOR ARTIFICIAL STONE STEPS John J. School, Detroit, Mich.

Application September 9, 1931, Serial No. 561,924

2 Claims. (01. 25-121) The invention relates, generally, to improveformed integral substantially L-shaped in cross merits in artificial stone steps, and particularly section. The improved step is also provided with to the manufacture of reinforced concrete steps reinforcing elements eXteIlding the entire length having the tread and riser formed integral. thereof. The artificial step preferably is formed An object'of the invention resides in the imin an improved mold of the type illustrated in 5 proved method of manufacturing an artificial the accompanying drawing, consisting of outer stone step from plastic or slushy concrete to and inner shells and 11, resp ve y, and provide a high grade concrete step. removable end walls 12.

Another object is to provide an improved The outer shell 10, preferably a rectangular method of manufacturing artificial st n st s sheet of steel or nickel steel, has a flat substan- 3 by which the concrete, before setting, is puddled tially Vertic portion 14 and a m th a c 15 or vibrated by suitable means to remove all voids 011 its lower end to P V a longitudinal ec s of air and water and produce a solid, dense mass 6- The metal eXtendihg b y d t a ch is of high grade concrete. turned horizontally at right angles to the par- Another object is to provide a separable mold tiOn a t and then up y along its for reinforced concrete steps which is simple in m n d substantially v r al s t 18. construction, easy to assemble and disassemble, The inner Shell a o ed 0f Sheet metal, and inexpensive to manufa ture, has one marginal longitudinal edge 19 turned Another object is to provide an improved mold at right angles o the intermediate po on 2 for forming integrally and reinforcing the comand its pp marginal edge is turned a right .7 ponent parts of an artificial stone step; namely, angles to e po n providing portion H the tr ad and th ri r, and then downwardly toprovide a flange 24 Another object is to provide an improved mold which i d p to engage v r h fl 17 n of the chara ter ref rr d t ith removable the outer shell when the two shells are assemmeans to retain the reinforcing means or elebled to form the moldor ments in place during the molding process. Suitable Teihforeihg rods 25 are held d y w The foregoing and such other objects of th upon the inner shell 11 by suitable wire clips 26 invention as will appear hereinafter as the dewhich embrace Said rods d av t ir ree scription proceeds, will be more readily under ends extending through Openings 23 in t t d f a perusal f th following spe'cificainner shell and are bent over to effect their re- 30 tion, reference bein h d to the accompanying tention therein. As shown in Fig. 1 the reindrawing, in which: forcing rods 25 terminate short of the ends of Fig. 1 is a perspective iew of the improved the mold and the L-shaped end walls 12 are inmold partially assembled. serted into the mold, one from each end, to pro- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mold asvide an enclosure for receiving the concrete.

sembled and ready for pouring. When the mold is thus assembled, clamps 29 are Fig. 3 is a perspective View illustrating the impp d o hold the parts firmly in p proved step and various parts of the mold dis- The material, COIlSiStihg o C nc te in its assembled. plastic or slushy form, is poured into the open Fig. l is a diagrammatic view showing steps edge 31 of the mold and said material is puddled formed by the improved method. or vibrated with an electric vibrator or other At present, cut or cast stone slabs are being similar device, before setting, to remove all of used in the construction of steps, the tread and the air and water and leave a dense solid mass. riser being of separate pieces and being sup- After the concrete has set, the bent over ends ported only on their extreme ends. Steps con- 27 of the wire clips 26 are straightened and the structed in this manner are unsatisfactory since clamps 29 are removed to permit removal o they do not withstand the effects of the elehe shell 11. The Wi clips are n lipp ments nor hard usage. Frost often forms in the C o e to the urface of the concrete and the joints between the treads and the risers result- Step is removed o t Shell 10- ing in an uneven expansion of the separate parts T e p ov d unitary p. t s fo m d, is 50 which oftentimes causes cracking and even a truss which is not distorted or broken by tencrumbling of the slabs. Such steps when subsion being exerted at any one place. Frost or jected to a heavy load often crack readily. any other agent which breaks the ordinary slab The improved step is of unitary construction, step causes the improved step to raise or lower the tread and the riser of each step being uniformly. The step also is smooth and straight because it is made in metal forms which remain true if proper precautions are taken. voiding of air and water from the concrete before it has set provides a high grade of concrete which is more water proof than the usual dry tamped or semi-plastic product." e

The recess 16,'formed by the curved bottom 15 of the shell 10, provides a bull-nose 32 on the step, thus giving the improved product the outward appearance of steps built up from separate slabs of cut or cast stone.

Although an exemplary form of the improved step and the method of making the same has been illustrated in the accompanying drawing and described in detail in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that the steps may be satisfactorily formed in any practical mold of any suitable material, however, a sheet metal mold of the character shown and de scribed is preferable since such a mold insures a smooth finish and proper alignment and uniformity of'the steps. 2

I claim:

1. A mold of the character described including a substantially L-shaped outer shell having an outwardly curved longitudinal depression on one side adjacent the juncture of the L, an

L-shaped inner shell adapted to be arranged over said outer shell, removable end walls arranged between said shells, said end walls spac ing the shells apart, a longitudinal flange on one edge of the inner shell cooperating with and overlyinga similar flange on the corresponding edge'of the outer shell, and clamps embracing said shells adjacent the overlying flanges to secure the assembly together.

2. A mold of the character'described including a substantially L-shaped outer shell having an outwardly curved longitudinal depression on one side adjacent the juncture of the L, an L-shapedinner shell adapted to be arranged oversaid outer shell, end walls arranged between said shells, said end walls spacing the shells apart, a longitudinal fiange on one edge of the inner shell co-oper'a'ting with and overlying a similar flange on the corresponding edge of the outer shell, and clamps embracing *said shells adjacent the overlying flanges to secure the assembly together, the inner shell having a plurality of holes to receive straps for supporting reinforcing rods spaced between said shells.

JOHN J. SCHEEL. 

